August 3rd, 2009 - Watch aficionados can look forward to a fantastic fall auction on September 17th at Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York City. The sale of Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, Pocket Watches & Clocks will comprise over 300 highly collectible vintage and modern timepieces including some outstanding watches produced by Patek Philippe and an extraordinary Seiko wristwatch that was designed for and worn in Space. Clients can view these truly exceptional timepieces in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Los Angeles and New York.

The highlight of the sale is the Patek Philippe Ref. 3939HP. Sold on February 12th, 2000, it is a unique, minute-repeating platinum wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, custom-ordered black dial from Patek Philippe and an extra silver dial. Estimate: $ 400,000-600,000

Of note for those interested in historically significant watches and space exploration, there will be a Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk available in the September auction. This extraordinary watch was made in a limited edition of 6 pieces especially for the 12 day Space Mission "Soyuz TMA-13" to the International Space Station and worn by Private Space Explorer and renowned Video Game Designer, Richard Garriott. This is the first watch ever designed specifically for use in free space. It is a very fine and unique, two-time-zone, self-winding, water-resistant, titanium wristwatch with date, square button chronograph, registers, power reserve indication and is accompanied by a letter of authentication. Proceeds from this timepiece will go to The Nature Conservancy and the Challenger Center. Estimate: $ 10,000 - $20,000

Another extraordinary Patek Philippe offered in the sale is the Patke Philippe Ref. 3974, Sold on March 3rd, 2000, it is a unique, astronomic, minute-repeating, self-winding, platinum wristwatch with custom-ordered black dial from Patek Philippe, perpetual calendar, leap year indication and moon phases. This exceptional watch is accompanied by a solid platinum case back and a second silver dial. Estimate: $ 450,000 - $ 650,000

Also on the auction block is the Patek Philippe Ref. 5013. Production of this reference started in 1992. This superb timepiece was sold on June 26, 2000. It is an extremely fine, rare and important, tonneau-shaped, minute-repeating, astronomic, self-winding, platinum gentleman's wristwatch with retrograde perpetual calendar, moon phases, leap year indication and original silver dial.Estimate: $450,000 - $650,000

Yet another outstanding Patek Philippe in the sale is a Patek Philippe Ref. 5016. Sold on February 12th, 2000, it is a unique, rare and important, astronomic, minute-repeating, platinum wristwatch with custom ordered black dial from Patek Philippe, one-minute tourbillon regulator, retrograde perpetual calendar, moon phases. Also accompanying this watch is a solid platinum case back and a second silver dial.Estimate: $ 450,000 - $650,000

For the Blancpain aficionado, there is a "1735 - Grande Complication" Blancpain, No. 28/30. This superb timepiece was produced in a limited edition of 30 pieces in the 1990s. Production of this model began in 1991. It is an extremely fine, rare and important, large, astronomic, minute-repeating, self-winding, platinum wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon regulator, round button co-axial split-seconds chronograph, register, perpetual calendar, moon phases and moon age. Estimate: $ 450,000 - $650,000

The Jaeger Le Coultre enthusiast will want to bid on the Jaeger-LeCoultre, "Gyrotourbillon 1", No. 02/75. This reference was produced in a limited edition of 75 pieces starting in 2005 with a production limited to 20 pieces per year. This is the first time ever this piece is available to the public as the No. 1 (01/75) is exhibited in Jaeger Le Coultre museum. Sold on January 19, 2007, this piece is an exceptional and highly complicated, large, water-resistant, 8-day going platinum wristwatch with visible Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 177 with inclined lightweight two-cage multi-axis spherical tourbillon, two barrels with sapphire covers, "marchante" equation of time, perpetual calendar with retrograde month indication, leap-year indication and patented instant date display by means of two retrograde hands, power reserve indication and "1000 Hours Control. Estimate: $ 320,000- $370,000

In addition, a Patek Philipe Ref. 2499/100, fourth series will also be offered in the September auction. Produced circa 1980, it is a very fine and very rare, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with round button chronograph, 30-minute register, perpetual calendar and moon phases. Estimate: $250,000 - $350,000

Another exquisite Patek Philippe in the sale is the Patek Philippe Ref. 3448. Produced in 1978, it is a very fine and very rare, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch retailed by Tiffany & Co. with perpetual calendar and moon phases. Estimate: $80,000 - $100,000

Also offered is an FP Journe "Vagabondage", Invenit et Fecit, No. 61/69V. Produced in a limited edition of 69 pieces in 2006, it is a very fine and very rare, tonneau-shaped, platinum wristwatch with wandering hour indication and 18K pink gold movement. Estimate: $50,000 - $70,000

For the Marlon Brando fan there is a Vacheron Constantin, Geneve, Ref. 4877. Produced in 1954, it was gifted to Marlon Brando by Zsa Zsa Gabor to commemorate the theatrical release of "On the Waterfront", for which Mr. Brando won an Oscar. It is a fine and rare 18K yellow gold wristwatch with patent guilloche dial and engraved case back, "To Marlon - Love - Zsa Zsa - June 24, 1954". Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

An impressive 49 of the 81 watches sold publicly by major auction houses for over SFR. 1,000,000 were sold by Antiquorum. In 2002, Antiquorum set the all-time world record for a wristwatch at auction, selling a unique 1939 platinum Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 1415 for US $4,026,524 (SFR. 6,603,500) - more than double the previous world record. Another record price for a modern watch was achieved in 2004, the unique white gold Calibre 89, also by Patek Philippe, was sold for SFR. 6,603,500 (US $5,002,652). Among the world records in 2005, the "Tour de i'Ile", at US $1,564,000 (SFR. 1,876,250), set a world record for a contemporary wristwatch and the "King Fouad I", at US $2,755,000 (SFR. 3,306,250), achieved the highest price ever paid for a Vacheron Constantin. Another record was achieved in 2009, when Gandhi's pocket watch, sandals, glasses, bowl and thali, sold for an astounding $2,096,000.

Online Catalogue - Auction catalogues will be posted online at www.antiquorum.com approximately two weeks prior to the sale. New and returning clients may register for online bidding at that time. After receiving a paddle and a pi number, clients have the option of placing absentee bids directly on the site, or bidding interactively on auction day. For those collectors, who are simply interested in following the auction as it progresses, a live internet broadcast will take place on the same site, for which no registration is required. Sale results for the traditional auction will be posted online after the sale.

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